Maui vendor frustration

[amandadburns]

I know everyone is supposed to be all 'how wonderful everything is and how happy I am' on these message boards, but I have to say I have regretted my impulsive decision to marry in Maui on many many occassions. I've lost count of the number of times a local vendor has said one thing then weeks later said something completely different without any reasonable explanation as to why. That prices have unexplainably shot up overnight. That people I am trying to do business with take weeks to reply to emails (brides, choose your wedding planner with great care). I am trying really hard not to let it rub the magic away, but it is a real effort at times and it makes me really sad that I even have to make that effort. I have a very confused impression of people in Maui right now, I'm not sure what to expect. I'm upset writing this but am I the only person who is not having the perfect wedding planning experience?

[TLC4Rock]

Hang in there somethings start a little rocky and can end with a smooth landing. Keep fighting your way with your vendors and by all means fight for you day!

 

 

That's what I think of everytime I have drama! ;-)

[joliem]

Who's your planner?!

[SydneyFitz]

Sorry to hear that! I lived on Oahu for three years in college and I have to tell you the not so urgent in getting back to you is just the way people are there. It drives me crazy too but its the laid back culture.

 

In regards to people changing their prices on you, do you have emails that prove the prices they originally quoted you? If you have any evidence I'd counter them with that.

 

Good luck! If you don't mind naming the vendors that have given you issues I'm sure a lot of us would appreciate it so we can avoid or be aware when looking ourselves!

 

Thanks!

[amandadburns]

I'm too scared to say who my planner is incase she reads this, gets angry and she has my wedding in her hands. I have my fingers and toes crossed she's just typical of the laid back Maui attitude but will pull things off on the day, but when I see other girls talking about their fantastic planners I kick myself for not finding out more about mine before hiring her. I promise to write back after our wedding on May 10th how it turned out. Even if it comes off well I would not recommend my planner as her communication is terrible and I've ended up taking at least half the wedding tasks off her because she was either quoting ridiculous prices ($1000 for flowers on 3 tables of 8 at the dinner for example). She does bizarre things like arrange to have my guests dropped off at the ceremony venue 45 minutes before the ceremony. They'll all be bored senseless after 15 minutes of waiting not to mention melting in the sun. She arranged for candles at the venue even tho we leave an hour before sunset and arranged for us to be collected from the reception an hour before it finishes. I just have no idea where her head is!

[cutefeet]

I feel your pain Amanda! My wedding is May 15th and I was just informed that the name of my venue has changed from SeaWatch Restaurant to Gannon's and that my guests will no longer be allowed to order table side, I will now have to have their entree choices in 72 hours prior to the wedding. None of this would have been an issue if I had been informed BEFORE my invitations went out. Now my invitations and directions card lists the wrong name of my venue and my RSVP card did not have meal choices. So now I have to contact all of my guests somehow (phone, e-mail, mail) and let them know of the name change so they don't get confused when trying to find the venue, and also to give them their meal selections and get their choices. With all the etiquette and class that involves I might as well have sent out an E-vite!!! Gannon's will NOT accommodate me with the table side ordering even though this change is taking place only 2 weeks before my wedding!!! AND now my invitations which were obviously intended on being keepsakes have the wrong name on them! So since we now have to contact everyone anyway we figure we will see if we can find another venue because we are so angry at this last minute change and no communication from Gannon's that we don't want them to have one red cent of ours!!

[amandadburns]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutefeet I feel your pain Amanda! My wedding is May 15th and I was just informed that the name of my venue has changed from SeaWatch Restaurant to Gannon's and that my guests will no longer be allowed to order table side, I will now have to have their entree choices in 72 hours prior to the wedding. None of this would have been an issue if I had been informed BEFORE my invitations went out. Now my invitations and directions card lists the wrong name of my venue and my RSVP card did not have meal choices. So now I have to contact all of my guests somehow (phone, e-mail, mail) and let them know of the name change so they don't get confused when trying to find the venue, and also to give them their meal selections and get their choices. With all the etiquette and class that involves I might as well have sent out an E-vite!!! Gannon's will NOT accommodate me with the table side ordering even though this change is taking place only 2 weeks before my wedding!!! AND now my invitations which were obviously intended on being keepsakes have the wrong name on them! So since we now have to contact everyone anyway we figure we will see if we can find another venue because we are so angry at this last minute change and no communication from Gannon's that we don't want them to have one red cent of ours!!

Oh no what a pain! I can understand why you don't want to give them your business for mucking you around. They really should honor the previous owners agreement with you. If you do have to get all your guest meal selections you could delegate that task to your bridesmaids! You'll have enough on your hands (and mind) in the lead-up without having to make all those phone calls/letters/emails yourself. We were going to do an ice-breaker brunch for our wedding guests at Seawatch/Gannon's but their brunch buffet was underwhelming for the price. The location looks lovely though so if you do go ahead there I'm sure the setting will be beautiful. We're doing dinner at Spago and they've been brilliant (this is one part of the day my wedding planner is not organising!). Their catering manager replies to emails within minutes (that freaks me out but very impressive!) and the menu looks yummy. No pre-ordering required, but our party is only 30, perhaps that's a factor. I hope Gannon's works out. Take a deep breath, and wishing you a wonderful day when this trouble will all be a faint memory

[akbridehi]

Oh man, I am dying to know who your coordinator is - I hope it's not mine! I'm sorry you are having issues. But yes, everyone in Hawaii has a very laid back attitude when it comes to timing. I have the same problem here at work with out remote villages - you just have to get used to their timing and work with it!

[lizconemac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutefeet I feel your pain Amanda! My wedding is May 15th and I was just informed that the name of my venue has changed from SeaWatch Restaurant to Gannon's and that my guests will no longer be allowed to order table side, I will now have to have their entree choices in 72 hours prior to the wedding. None of this would have been an issue if I had been informed BEFORE my invitations went out. Now my invitations and directions card lists the wrong name of my venue and my RSVP card did not have meal choices. So now I have to contact all of my guests somehow (phone, e-mail, mail) and let them know of the name change so they don't get confused when trying to find the venue, and also to give them their meal selections and get their choices. With all the etiquette and class that involves I might as well have sent out an E-vite!!! Gannon's will NOT accommodate me with the table side ordering even though this change is taking place only 2 weeks before my wedding!!! AND now my invitations which were obviously intended on being keepsakes have the wrong name on them! So since we now have to contact everyone anyway we figure we will see if we can find another venue because we are so angry at this last minute change and no communication from Gannon's that we don't want them to have one red cent of ours!!

Cute feet,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Seawatch/Gannon's. I'm having my reception there August 4th, and was also surprised to find out about the name change and the fact that I had to pick entrees. I was lucky enough to find this out before my invites went out - but no thanks to Gannon's. They didn't contact me - I contacted them. Anyway, it's a little worrisome, but I'm still going to have my reception there. I'm so shocked they won't accommodate you with table side ordering. What's bugging me is that I'm putting "Gannon's" on my invites, but they haven't changed the name of the restaurant on the website....it's still under Seawatch....so if people google the name, it won't come up. Anyway, they really should have been more proactive with their brides.

[almostmrshoward]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutefeet I feel your pain Amanda! My wedding is May 15th and I was just informed that the name of my venue has changed from SeaWatch Restaurant to Gannon's and that my guests will no longer be allowed to order table side, I will now have to have their entree choices in 72 hours prior to the wedding. None of this would have been an issue if I had been informed BEFORE my invitations went out. Now my invitations and directions card lists the wrong name of my venue and my RSVP card did not have meal choices. So now I have to contact all of my guests somehow (phone, e-mail, mail) and let them know of the name change so they don't get confused when trying to find the venue, and also to give them their meal selections and get their choices. With all the etiquette and class that involves I might as well have sent out an E-vite!!! Gannon's will NOT accommodate me with the table side ordering even though this change is taking place only 2 weeks before my wedding!!! AND now my invitations which were obviously intended on being keepsakes have the wrong name on them! So since we now have to contact everyone anyway we figure we will see if we can find another venue because we are so angry at this last minute change and no communication from Gannon's that we don't want them to have one red cent of ours!!

Howdy....thought I'd post and share my experience with Gannons. I just got married there on April 2 and also was annoyed that the restaurant name was changed, the menu setup was changed, etcetera. But I do have to say that in the end, my wedding was nothing short of perfect. They're not that great at communicating, but boy was the food DELICIOUS.

For those of you worried about what people want, you might do what I did...order the plates that come with steak AND fish. The portions were a good size, big enough to only eat one or the other (I think it's called the duo plate?).

As for your name, well, everyone on the island still know it as Seawatch. You might either send an e-mail or designate your parents/wedding party/etcetera to spread the word. Since everyone will likely be in communication with each other on the day of, it will be pretty easy to make sure everyone knows it's also known as Gannons.